Breakin' Records! 10 Current African-American Artists Who Have Already Made History
All throughout the month of February, you're going to learn about important African-American people in all walks of life who have made history in one way or another. Some helped change laws. Others broke down racial barriers in their chosen professions. And all of them contributed to the betterment of American society by standing up and fighting for the things they believed in.
That being said, it's important to remember that there are plenty of black folks in the world who are still making history everyday. And that's especially true in the world of music. They may not be doing something as important as, say, taking a seat at the front of a public bus or becoming the first black man to play in a game of professional baseball. But, in their own way, they're making sure that they'll be remembered forever—and leaving a legacy that will inspire others to pursue their own hopes and dreams.
These are the artists that your kids will still be talking about 40 years from now thanks to their contributions to the game. So to help celebrate Black History Month, check out the 10 current African-American artists who have already made history. As these artists prove, we're all seeing black history being made everyday.
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Breakin' Records: 10 Current African-American Artists Who Have Already Made History
Making History 1
The Artist: Jay-Z
The History He's Made: In September 2009, Hov's Blueprint 3 became his 11th No. 1 album, which broke the record that Elvis had previously held for the most No. 1 albums released by a single artist.
Making History 2
The Artist: Lil Wayne
The History He's Made: In September 2011, Weezy put his name in the Guinness Book of Records by putting his 82nd song onto the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 chart. He also earned another Guinness mention in early 2011 when his name garnered more Facebook likes in one day (588,243) than anyone else in Facebook history.
Making History 3
The Artist: Beyonce
The History She's Made: In February 2010, Bey set a Grammy Award record by winning six Grammys, including song of the year, at the 2010 Grammy Awards.
Making History 4
The Artist: Usher
The History He's Made: In July 2004, Usher set a record by spending 20 weeks at the top of the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 charts with his hit singles, "Yeah!" and "Burn," in a single calendar year.
Making History 5
The Artist: Drake
The History He's Made: In October 2011, Drake tied Diddy when his single, "Headlines," became his ninth song to go No. 1 on the Billboard rap charts.
Making History 6
The Artist: T.I.
The History He's Made: In September 2008, Tip set the record for the biggest jump to No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 chart when his song, "Whatever You Like," went from No. 71 to No. 1 in a single week.
Making History 7
The Artist: Rihanna
The History He's Made: In November 2011, Rih-Rih broke a long-standing record by becoming the first artist to land 11 different songs at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Making History 8
The Artist: Chris Brown
The History He's Made: In July 2011, Breezy performed in front of 18,000 fans on the Today Show, a record for the stage that so many other artists of all genres have appeared on over the years.
Making History 9
The Artist: 50 Cent
The History He's Made: In October 2009, Fif's Behind the Music episode became the most-watched show in VH1's storied history.
Making History 10
The Artist: Nicki Minaj
The History She's Made: In January 2011, Miss Minaj's "Stupid ---" music video broke Vevo's record for most video views within 24 hours of its official release. It was viewed 4.8 million times on its first day on the Internet.
